Review by Jack on July 11, 2002.

First things first, I am going to get my major gripe out of the way straight off the bat with “The Sign (Key of the Underworld – Regained) Pt. 1: The Towers of Griefdom”. The production on this album is pretty abysmal. Things start off adequately (in terms of production) with the opening track ‘Intro (The Sign)’ everything is crystal clear, but following that “The Sign...” takes an ominous turn. The dark and well worked atmosphere of ‘Intro (The Sign)’, is soon replaced by a horribly distorted and buzzing mess of sound in ‘To The Absolute’ and unfortunately for Daemonlord it does not really get any better as the album wears on. However, that being said, there are some very positive points in “The Sign...” to consider.

Despite having such a horrendous production, it is still easy to take into account and more importantly, appreciate the music that Daemonlord have put together on “The Sign...” even if the production may seem amateurish, the music is clearly and simply very, very professional. Spanning just under 33 minutes, Daemonlord blast their way between death and black metal through 11 solid songs. Though only a young band (formed in 2000), Daemonlord show they have what it takes to really make it on the black metal stage. Drums are blazingly heavy, vocals are dripped in venomous acid, and guitars rip along in perfection to assist in spinning tales of space and time in an almost disheartening reflection upon humanity. We are presented here with some interesting lyrical concept and not the usual baggage that freely flows forth from the various black metal scenes around the world.

“The Sign...” has not been produced with the highest budget ever available to a metal band, and it shows. Guitars distort, vocals gargle and the drums can be a little fuzzy. However, for a starting band the duo of Kepa and Sixto know exactly how to ply their dark craft. Hopefully for them (and the well-being of our ears), Daemonlord will be able to benefit from a more hefty sum of money next time, and then we may really be able to acknowledge effectively the talent that they possess.

Bottom Line: If Daemonlord had the budget of the latest Dimmu Borgir album or that of Satyricon’s “Rebel Extravaganza”, I think Daemonlord could well be the next interesting platform in black metal art. For now we shall have to cross our fingers for part II.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 4
Originality: 6
Overall: 6.5

Rating: 6.1 out of 10

Review by JD on July 18, 2010.

Originality is not a prerequisite for being good. You can be original, and still end up sounding like total shit (just ask the worst of the 80's hair band Wrathchild America). It helps having some level of originality going on for you, but it can be a huge weight around your neck. Now for the review.

Eternal Tears Of Sorrow is a band made up of a grouping of many varying styles...each of them as extreme as you can get. From Black to Doom and even taking a little from Viking and Neo-Classical metal. Just think if shredmaster Yngwie Malmsteen joined forces with a band such as Cradle Of Filth... and had the musical arrangements of Novembers Doom meets Nightwish.

Each track Eternal Tears Of Sorrow has seems to melt into one, and yet each song is a entity on its own as well. The whole album seems to all flow and ebb as you drift into a world of barbaric pain, abject fear, the bleakest of hopelessness and evil spawned blackness. This album can only be truly described as a blackened symphony that is both soaring angelic and yet hellbound to the fiery pits as well.

"Children Of The Dark Waters" is amazingly heavy, musically sweeping and lyrically quite haunting album that surprises you from the very first track to the last one. The album is so good that no matter what style of metal you normally would like, it will touch a part of you with its brutal grace and undeniable strength. This can be described nearly as classic metal album... an album that people need to hear.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9.0 out of 10